Seniors Troupe Gets Its Kicks Dancing

APOPKA — They are in their 60s and 70s, but the Rocker-ettes of Zellwood Station never find time to doze in rocking chairs. They are too busy tap-dancing.

Putting on a top hat and tails and stepping out with taps on their shoes works magic and the seniors dance with the agility of younger performers.

Any canes they use are props for tap-dancing, say the 28 members of the amateur group, all residents of the retirement community on U.S. Highway 441 between Apopka and Zellwood.

They say they may not be ready for prime-time television, but that is not their goal. They have fun entertaining crowds, and in the four years since they organized they have won a dedicated following in northwest Orange County. Each year they stage a show for residents at Zellwood Station, a community of manufactured homes.

They also volunteer to help fund-raising dramatic productions at Zellwood Community Center.

Jean Abboud, director and choreographer of the Rocker-ettes and at 58 ''the baby'' of the group, explained how the Rocker-ettes came about.

''We have dances at Zellwood Station -- a lot of us like to dance -- and a bunch of us were sitting at a table and someone said that the song being played would be good music for tap-dancing, then someone asked if anyone there tap-danced.

''We decided we ought to have a tap-dancing class, and I put a notice in our monthly bulletin, and my goodness, they turned out!''

Abboud, a retired high school physical education teacher from New Jersey who has tap-danced since she was a child, said the group ''started out slow, just putting on a little show at one of our happy hours at Zellwood Station. We did three numbers for our show there the first year, then the second year we did four.

''Now, they feel like Ann Millers and Eleanor Powells. They do intricate numbers, and I think they're certainly above average. I'm very proud of their accomplishments.''

Abboud said the group is working on 14 numbers for a March 21 Rocker- ettes in Concert.

No tickets were sold for last year's show but donations were accepted to help pay for costumes.

Abboud said there will be a charge for admission in March to help pay expenses.

''A lot of people ask me why we don't put the show on two or three nights,'' she said. ''I said, 'Oh, no, I'm not going to ask that of these ladies and men.' It is strenuous and they do build up their endurance for it. About half of the 18 original Rocker-ettes had no tap-dancing experience when they joined. But Abboud, who has started a second class for beginners, said experience is not necessary. Enthusiasm is what makes the group click.